Ariel Winter Reminds Us Why We Should Love Our Bodies And 'Take Back The Beach'

"I realized the only person that should have an opinion on me is me."

Modern Family's Ariel Winter, like many in the spotlight, has experienced body shaming and hate comments from complete strangers.

But in a recent video for Refinery29, Winter opens up about her experiences with some of those trolls and how she's learned to love her body. In doing so, she offers up important advice for all those listening, no matter what our size, age, gender and beyond.

"It was really difficult for me, because I had a ton of people automatically telling me I was too fat, I was too skinny, I looked like a slut because I had boobs," Winter says about coming into the spotlight, adding that it certainly took a toll on her mindset. She says she tried to make herself look different as a result.

"But you know when I did all that, I was still getting the same negative comments as I was getting before ... You gotta love yourself first."

In the video, Winter also talks about how she deals with press coverage regarding her body, what it means to practice body positivity, why we should "take back the beach," and the one thing she'd say to body-shamers.

Here are five key quotes from Winter's interview we think everyone should read:

1. "I realized the only person that should have an opinion on me is me."

2. "I think everyone has good days and bad days. You can tell yourself, 'this is just a momentary feeling ... I am beautiful and I am special ...' But I think everybody's entitled to having a few days where they don't feel so great."

3. "People that try and shame other people on the Internet probably haven't had somebody supporting them or making them feel good in their lives."

4. "I think a lot of people have a fear of coming to the beach ... spend time having a good time instead of worrying about what other people are doing, or what they look like."

5. On beach-bodies: "[It's] a body at the beach. Put on a swimsuit, or don't, and go to the beach."

Winter's interview is part of Refinery29's Tack Back the Beach campaign, reminding women that going to the beach should be a fun and positive experience, not a negative one. Moreover, it's a lesson in loving and accepting our bodies, no matter what they look like.

"Makeup on, makeup off, heels, sandals, covered up, exposed, do you and feel HAPPY about who you are and YOUR choices, not the ones society wants us to choose. It's also HARD to be 100 percent confident — I'm still not — but I'm on a journey and I want other people to know they're not alone. We all struggle but through our struggle we get stronger and closer to our goals.